Kathmandu. The search and rescue operation of the government is continuing for the 17th day in the areas affected by the severe floods in the Bhotekoshi River.
The floods have caused a huge loss of life and property in the riverine districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, as well as extensive damage to houses, buildings, roads, bridges, hydropower projects and other important infrastructures. At a regular press briefing on Friday, spokesperson at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri, said that all available resources were being mobilized for the search, rescue and relief operations.
According to him, coordination from the highest level within and outside Nepal has been made more effective to mobilize international support after the disaster. Stating that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs were maintaining constant coordination with friendly countries and international partners, Poudel said the Prime Minister had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of New Zealand on Friday morning. Tunnel rescue teams from India, China and South Korea are working in coordination with the Nepal Army. Similarly, the search and rescue team of the United Arab Emirates, the ‘SMART’ team of Malaysia and the ‘DART’ team of Australia are also assisting in the ongoing rescue operation.
Search and rescue operations are underway at the affected hydropower projects and other places, the ministry said. Equipment, drones, loads and other rescue materials received from friendly countries are being used.
Due to the magnitude and complexity of the disaster, additional specialized equipment and equipment is needed. Nepal has formally sought assistance from international partners for high-capacity drones, lidar systems, bailey bridges, epidemic prevention materials, DNA testing kits, underwater drones, and high-capacity water pumps.
According to the latest data, 13,676 people have been rescued alive from the flood-affected areas so far. More than 320 of the rescued are foreign nationals.
However, 5,130 people, including 600 foreign nationals from 35 countries, are still missing, according to the ministry. So far, 1,385 bodies have been recovered from the flood-affected areas.
The Ministry said that further data would be updated as search, rescue and identification works are underway.
The Ministry has said that it is not yet available in detail about which country the highest number of foreign nationals are missing. The government is working to restore road, electricity and telecommunication services to deliver relief materials to the affected communities.
The installation of an acro bridge over the Tadi River at Devighat under the Galchhi-Trishuli road section has been completed and opened for the general public. Work is also underway to remove the obstructions on the road at various places in the affected areas.
Preliminary reports have been received that 57 bridges have been damaged in the flood-affected areas. India and China have been requested to provide structures including Bailey Bridge for the rehabilitation of these bridges.
Out of the 22 bridges, six bailey bridges and 16 70-metre long single lane modular steel bridges are under construction. Similarly, 30 bailey bridges have been demanded from China and two bridges of 100 meters length have been handed over to Nepal. The remaining bridges are also being received gradually and continuous coordination is being done with both countries, the ministry said. According to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment Report after the disaster, preliminary estimates are that the floods caused about $1.8 billion in physical damage. Similarly, the economic and other losses are estimated to be about $883 million. It is estimated that about
$4.78 billion will be needed for reconstruction. Of this, about $57.67 billion will be needed for immediate reconstruction and reconstruction in the next six months, and about $4.71 billion for long-term reconstruction.
The Ministry has said that since this is a preliminary and rapid assessment, it cannot be considered a final figure. It is stated that a detailed post-disaster needs assessment would be carried out to determine the complete damage caused by the disaster and the resources required for the reconstruction.
According to the Ministry, the bodies have been temporarily managed to facilitate identification and handing over to the family after the bodies concerned fulfill the necessary judicial and medical process.
The work of DNA sample collection and testing has been intensified for the identification of the body. Forensic medical experts and forensic teams from India, China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea are working in coordination with the Nepal Police. They are collecting DNA samples from the dead as well as the close family members of the deceased. Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities have facilitated the repatriation of 768 Nepalis through the Tatopani border point, according to the ministry.
Nepal has said it will raise the issue of climate justice in the international forum more effectively by linking the Bhotekoshi flood disaster to climate change. Stating that Nepal has been raising the issue of climate justice for a long time, Poudel said that this issue should be presented in the relevant international forums in a result-oriented and meaningful way in the context of the latest disaster. “Nepal will continue to raise the issue of climate justice in international forums directly related to the issue,” he said.
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